Bin Hammam keen on English vote

FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam has urged England’s FA to reconsider its decision to abstain from voting on June 1.

The FA announced last Thursday they would not cast their vote in the election between Bin Hammam and incumbent Sepp Blatter, following allegations of corruption in the bidding process that saw Russia chosen over England to host the 2018 World Cup.

But Bin Hammam, who has promised wide-ranging reforms of FIFA should he be elected, believes the FA have a responsibility to world football to take part in the vote.

“The football family is vast and diverse – perhaps more so than any of us can truly comprehend – and that is one of our sport’s greatest strengths,” the Asian Confederation chief said in a blog post on his website on Tuesday.

“So it is always disappointing when someone opts not to engage with the rest, when one of our national associations takes the decision not to try to affect change from the inside.”

“The FA, with its status as the oldest association in the world and England’s position as the birthplace of the modern game, is one of the most important institutions in world football.”

“As a result, they should be working with FIFA and the rest of the global game to improve and enhance football. By choosing to abstain, the FA is, sadly, forfeiting that right.”

“I realise they have their reasons for making their decision but I hope in the days leading up to the election that they will reconsider their position and make moves to engage fully with the global football family, both on June 1 and beyond.”

England managed to secure just two votes in their bid to bring the World Cup back to the birthplace of football for the first time since 1966.

The disappointing outcome led to accusations of corruption in the bidding process, prompting the FA to launch an inquiry.

The bidding for the 2022 World Cup has also come under scrutiny, with a British parliamentary inquiry hearing allegations that Qatari bid officials offered two Confederation of African Football FIFA executives US$1.5 million in bribes in return for their votes.

Qatar’s bid committee angrily denied the allegations in a statement on Monday, and moved to discredit the forthcoming testimony of a whistleblower as the grumblings of an embittered ex-employee with an axe to grind.

FIFA is expected to hear evidence from the ex-employee on Wednesday.